Jannik Hansen practiced on Wednesday for the first time since suffering an injury against the New York Islanders in October. He’s eligible to return on Sunday against the Dallas Stars, which raises some interesting questions for the Canucks: just where does he fit into the lineup?

In the 11 games that Hansen has played this season, he’s mainly skated in the top-six, spending some time with the Sedins on the top line and on a second line with Chris Higgins and Ryan Kesler. The only issue is that John Tortorella has settled on a consistent top-six after a lot of experimentation early in the season and there doesn’t seem to be any room for Hansen. That is, unless Tortorella is willing to shuffle his lines significantly, which appears to be the case.

The first option would be to bring Hansen along slowly, starting him on the fourth line. At practice on Wednesday, he skated on a line with Tom Sestito and Zac Dalpe in drills, with Jeremy Welsh taking the place of an absent Henrik Sedin. That may have just been because he was not eligible to return from long term injured reserve on Thursday against the Sharks, however.

The benefit of starting Hansen on the fourth line, perhaps with spot duty on special teams, is that it keeps the other line combinations together. The top line with Kesler on the Sedins’ wing has been dominant at times, though the three players have combined for just 2 assists over the last 4 games. The second line with Mike Santorelli centring Higgins and Alex Burrows has been very impressive, particularly in their battles along the boards, and have performed very well against strong competition.

The question mark is the third line of David Booth, Brad Richardson, and Zack Kassian. The trio have skated just one game together, finishing about even in puck possession against the Joe Pavelski line for the Sharks, but they seem to have some potential together. Starting Hansen on the fourth line for a couple games gives the Canucks some more time to assess that line.

With that said, the Canucks have scored just 1 goal in each of their last three games, so a change seems to be in order. The question is how big a change is needed. If the line combinations at Saturday morning’s practice are any indication, we will see a significantly different lineup on Sunday against the Stars.

Kesler a centre again. Back on 2L with Higgins and Hansen. Burrows with twins. Booth-Santorelli-Kassian / Sestito-Richardson-Welsh #canucks

With Kesler on the wing and the return of Hansen, the Canucks have a surplus of wingers, so moving Kesler back to centre seems to be the best use of their resources. The end result is a lineup that looks almost exactly like what fans expected at the beginning of the season.

Kesler’s return to centre pushes Santorelli to the third line. That alone may encourage Tortorella to spread out the minutes, as Kesler has led all Canucks forwards in ice time and is tied with Sidney Crosby for the league-lead in ice time among forwards, while Santorelli is fifth among Canucks forwards in ice time and has averaged over 19 minutes per game. The third line, meanwhile, has averaged closer to 12-13 minutes per game.

A third line of Santorelli, Booth, and Kassian should be able to play more minutes and take some heat off the top-six. Both Booth and Santorelli have been second line players in their careers, though Booth hasn’t played up to that standard of late, and Kassian has the potential to be a second line player as well. Having all three on the third line should theoretically work out well.

The move also reunites Burrows with the Sedins, which will hopefully help Burrows get going again. The winger has no goals and just 3 assists through 9 games, though he has performed well and been robbed multiple times on great scoring chances. As much as Tortorella has seemed convinced that Kesler is best suited to be a winger, having him on the top line has prevented the Sedins from elevating the game of a lesser player, like Burrows or Kassian.

The move will also hopefully get the Sedins producing again, as they haven’t provided a goal in four games.

Hansen returning immediately to the second line may be throwing him into the deep end after a long absence, but his return gives the Canucks some impressive depth at forward, partly thanks to forcing Kesler back into the middle. With both Santorelli and Richardson impressing this season, the Canucks now have excellent depth down the middle of the ice. If Hansen is able to perform up to his usual standards, their depth down the wings is also superb.

Without moving Kesler back to centre, the Canucks would have to put one of Kassian, Booth, or Hansen on the fourth line, which would not be ideal unless it was a temporary situation to get Hansen back up to speed. It doesn’t look like Tortorella thinks he needs to be eased back in, however, and it will be interesting to see how he performs in a large role immediately.

14 comments

Metaxa

clutch fan

Hansen’s versatility, speed and grit make him one my favorite Canucks, good to see him back healthy! As you said, theoretically, this line-up is pretty solid looking.

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Brent

November 16, 2013

I don’t mind seeing Kesler move down to centre. as you said, they haven’t really been clicking.

So that is the second practice Herdic missed, so is he playing injured? Would explain some things.

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Cody

November 16, 2013

Just can’t wait to hear Hansen’s high pitched breathless voice again. The way it slowly rises during a sentence gets me every time!

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shoes

November 17, 2013

You mean like the CBC announcers when any leafs player moves even the slightest. It’s called “voice rising to tinny crescendo” when the CBC guys do it.

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Naturalmystic

November 16, 2013

Dallas is bringing the pain train to the squared ice surface at Rogers tomorrow night. Wooooooooooooo!

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shoes

November 17, 2013

I sincerely hope that you did not take a long time to make that post up.

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PB

November 17, 2013

I know, I know, you should never respond to trolls. But this is quite magnificent. Canucks fans are obviously slackers so touché sir; we are also obviously juvenile (it is good that you can spot likeness so easily so again, brava). But the Wang Chung reference? Right over the edge. Is it because we are going to have fun tonight? Or because these are the dance hall days? So much meaning in your post, so many possibilities. I do like that you and Naturalmystic (because who wants to have synthetic communion with the universe after all) spend the time you do here in your attempts to antagonize.

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Daniel Wagner

November 17, 2013

No, the reference is likely because he’s a horrible racist. Worse comments from him have been deleted in the past.

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Naturalmystic

November 17, 2013

Why would you call me a racist?

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Daniel Wagner

November 17, 2013

Not you. He was replying to someone else, whose comment got deleted.

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Aaron

November 17, 2013

It’s nice to see how the concern of Depth on our team was huge at the beginning of the year and now due to some good pickups we are suddenly deep again. We now get to see what a health Canucks team can do! TO the comment above when you say dallas is bringing the pain do you mean they are going to be in pain?

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HoobaJooba

November 17, 2013

As with all things, this line-up looks like it could reasonably lead to more production and solid defensive play but that’s still speculative. The Sedins have been in a slump but they have weathered those storms before. Burrows is a known quantity on their line so it’s likely that he’ll be able to break the goose egg that he has for goals.

The biggest question remains with that second line IMO. It will be interesting to see Kes back at center. He struggled early in the season and Torts has been open about preferring him on the wing. He’s still an excellent face-off man however and that should help drive play in the Canucks favor.

As for the other lines, even if Booth fails to score at a 20 goal clip this year, if he can be physical and chip in a few points I would say that he would have fulfilled his role (but not necessarily his salary) – we hope for more of course. As long as the rest of the team can continue chipping in points then this is a solid line-up. It will also be interesting to see how a guy like Schroeder will fit in once he’s healthy again (I’m assuming Weise will automatically replace Welsh on the 4th line – Dalpe ought to be sent down to Utica if only to help him transition to the Canucks’ system).

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Kenji

November 18, 2013

I like Kesler’s wheels and size and defensive acumen in the middle, even if he plays better as a winger. But I see him as a head-down shooter, not a guy who plays give and go.

I think we need another playmaker. Barring trade, I’d like to see Kassian with him for an extended spell – that kid has underrated passing ability and vision, aside from having the strength to bull to the net.

This move does bump Santorelli down to the third but maybe there is a tiny ember of chemistry with Booth?

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